Monday, February 06, 2006

Michigan Tech splits with Minnesota State - Mankato

Behind the pads of Michael Lee Teslak, Michigan Tech recorded its 4th straight WCHA series with 2 or more points. MTU got the win on Saturday with a score of 3-2, after losing 4-0 on Friday night. Excellent defense and good play by the home team was enough to keep MTU off the board Friday, but was not the case Saturday.

Friday was highlightless for MTU, as they saw a well played 1st period drastically change in the following 2 periods. Tech was done 1-0 at the end on 1 and 3-0 at the end of 2. MSU-M found the back of the net one last time in the 3rd making the final 4-0.

Teslak was named MTU player of the game, with 40 saves on 44 shots.

Saturday started the same, as both teams played well in the early going, and MSU-M got a late 1st period goal. They took that lead into the second. It was then when MTU took its first lead of the series, off of 2 power play goals, the first from Tyler Shelast and the by Mike Botavanja.

In the third, Taggart Desmet put in an errant pass from a Maverick defender. Making the game 3-1. Chris Conner nearly put the game away, but was unable to capitalize on a nifty move. Mankato scored halfway through the period, but MTU and netminder Teslak kept them out of the net the rest of the game, including a breakaway in the last minutes of the game.

Teslak was again named MTU player of the game with 38 saves on 40 shots.

Up Next...

MTU will be host to Minnesota, the likely number one in the USCHO poll when it comes out later today, for its annual Winter Carnival. Minnesota will be looking at avenging the road sweep they suffered at the hands of MTU last year.

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